The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-07-15

From every window twinkles a little
light. Gas is luxury there and Is every
where replaced by the candle and the kero-
sene lamp. The plate glass fronts and doors
of the rum shops are a blaze OF brilliancy,
while the cellar ways and alleys leading to
the dives are strange compounds Of light and
darkness. Here and there are the sounds OF
discordant dance music and the shuttle of
waltzing feet; shrieks Of agony, drunken Inn
precautions, calls OF "police," "nur'ier," the
clinking of goblets and tumblers, the crashing
of window panes, and the noise OF some
fierce fight. So loud at times Is the uproar
that it becomes difficult to hear your own
voice as you talk. Half dressed men and
half naked women stagger by carrying
broken pitchers and tin caus full of ale or
beer or more fiery fluids. Summon up your
courage and enter one of these human bee
hives No. IS, or Pasquale's, as 1t is known
to fame and the police, Is a fair type of all.
1t is huge four story and basement brick
tenement with a narrow winding stair 10
reach the first floor, and narrow precipitous
stone steps to enter the basement. A group
of drunken men and women block both stairs
and stone steps. Button your coat closely.
It will prevent your clothes touch ng the
walls and disturbing the predatory insect life
that swarm through the entire building 1t
will also conceal your watch, chain and scarf
pin. In these dives are outcast gamblers,
fugitive thieves and thirsty tipplers, who
would assault man for dime and cut his
throat for dollar You break through the
crowd, plunge down the steps and enter the
dark, narrow hall. It is scant two feet in
width, but on the floor lie human bodies in
the last stages of intoxication. They are al
most invisible in the darkness, but are audi
BILE through snorts and snores If asleep, or by
grunts and disjointed oaths il awake. In tie
front and rear part of the hall twa doors
open on either side into q small apartment of
two rooms. The larger is about fifteen feet
long and ten wide; the smaller about ten
by six. *"*
The furniture Is very simple In the center
small castiron stove that is red hot, q
small lamp on the wall and a board bench
around the room make up the entire equip
ment. In this room are forty human beings,
chiefly women. They fill up the bench, lie
ON the floor, lean against the wall and each
other Some are deep in drunken sleep,
others are undergoing the pangs of delirium
tremens, and others again are gloating over
stories of iniquity or planning new crimes
for the morrow. A waman strips herself to
clothes up into a ball and sends them by a
trusted pal to the pawnhroker's across the
street. In few minutes the pal has re-
turned with half dollar. The money Is
rapidly converted into liquor. and ere another
half hour has passed the twain are sodden in
alcohol and slumber, while thirsty room
mate searches the pal for change or steals her
shawl and boots to use as collateral in turn.
OF the forty present twenty five are women.
Their ages run from 16 to CO. One is O
negress, one a mulattress, two German, one
Hungarian, two English, eleven Irish and
seven Italian. Three are almost nude, flye
are half naked, and the rest are covered with
a variegated robe of rags, filth and vermin.
The inner rooms Well, the less said of it the
better. As for the men, they are trife
better than the women. Wrecks OF disease
and rum, recent discharges from hospitals,
workhouses and jails; tramps from all over
the world, professional beggars, unlucky
thieves lazzaroni, assassins and men wanted
By the police make up the motley herd.
49,
The moment well dressed person enters
a sEiiver runs through the crowd lest it be a
detective or the head policemen OF raid.
Satisfied of the contrary. all who are sober
beg and entreat for beer, whisky, or for
money to buy beer and whisky. Woe TO the
foolish sentimentalist who yields to their
prayers and gives them money. The nickel
Or dime acts upon them as the bandillero
upon the bull The moment it has been
seized by some itching palm, the begging be-
comes tumnlt OF yells, oaths, threats and
ubscenity. A strong arm. heavy cane or
club are immediately In order. There Is
population Of 5000 in Mulberry Bend, OF